Faulty Speed Cameras In Atlanta Lead To Incorrect Fines, Residents Seek Refunds

Speed cameras in Atlanta have improperly issued $300,000 to $500,000 worth of tickets to innocent drivers. The cameras ticketed drivers for exceeding the speed limit in school zones when the orange lights indicating the reduced speed were not flashing. FOX affiliate WAGA-TV reported that the speed limit increases to 35 miles per hour from 25 miles per hour once school is dismissed and the lights stop flashing.

According to The Sun, Atlanta Public Schools admitted that the cameras had been mistakenly issuing tickets to drivers after school hours since November 2023. Nearly 4,500 drivers were affected and will be refunded. This led to the issuance of hundreds of thousands of dollars in incorrect fines over six months.

When reporters inquired why the cameras were not turned off after hours, they received no direct response. Ivan DeQuesada was one of the drivers fined $75 for allegedly speeding at nearly 5 p.m. on a Friday when the lights were off. He said, “I thought about what was happening that day. I remembered what I was doing, and then I thought, ‘Man, I don’t remember that school zone light being on.”

DeQuesada found that several of his neighbors also received unexpected tickets. His neighbor, James Murphy, criticized the situation, saying, “They shouldn’t be raking in money from dozens of cars driving down the road when there’s no light blinking. It really just seems like a way to try to bring in money, rather than actually increase safety.”

Atlanta Public Schools confirmed the incorrect ticketing and promised refunds for those affected. However, some residents and lawmakers are pushing to ban the cameras altogether. Retiring State Representative Clay Pirkle had previously attempted to ban the cameras but was unsuccessful.